Town of Bristol

Board of Selectmen Worksession regarding Sewer to the Lake project

Minutes of 3-6-08

Members Present: Rick Alpers (RA), Joe Denning (JD), Steve Favorite (SF), Bruce Van Derven (BVD), Paul Fraser (PF) arrived later in the meeting, Town Manager Elizabeth Corrow

Others present: Clerk of the Works Burt Williams, Public works superintendant-Jeff Chartier, Boyd Smith (Newfound Lakes region association), CDM engineers for the Sewer to the Lake Project-Mike Walsh, Jennifer Osgood, Bill Hounsel, Josh Mccullick.

Chairman Rick Alpers called the worksession to order 5:30pm.

Jennifer Osgood, CDM, gave an overview of the waste water treatment project. The town received 90% grant funding for the project and construction will begin in the spring. The bids came in lower than expected and we have a healthy contingency. We will see near the end of the project if some of the funding can be used to deal with other concerns at the plant. We would need to get approval from the funding agencies before making any change to the project.

In regard to the Sewer to the Lake extension, Ms. Osgood explained that we are 90% done with the plans. We now have a good base map. We completed a boring program. Initially there was concern about rock in some of the areas we had initially laid out for the extensions but from the borings it doesn’t seem to be as wide spread of an issue as we originally thought. The borings were done every 200 to 300ft and it was a mix of borings and probes down every road we expect to put the sewer down.

Selectman Van Derven asked if the Bike path would be impacted.

Josh McCullick replied in the affirmative stating that appeared to be the best route for a later phase of the project because it would be the most economical path. However the bike path would be put back to its original condition as part of the project and that is more economical than attempting to avoid the path with a pump station.

Mr. McCullick further explained that the driver of the project is the well head protection area and the well head itself. We are looking at possible phases for the project over a period of time. We are designing flows which account for future development potential and development that we are aware of right now. We are designing for the trunk lines to bring the system to the lake the laterals (to go down the various side roads) would be done in future projects. Laterals are eligible for funding if you are able to show systems are failing in that area. It is important that we document input from citizens and document the number of holding tanks.

Ms. Osgood stated that back in 2002 they sent out a questionnaire documenting where problems were around the lake.

Mr. McCullick stated that there are several policy items that will need to be discussed in the future, such as how to deal with private roads & easements (Mr. Chartier replied that we would probably use the same policy that we have now), do you want to do improvements to the water system while you are in some sections of the town, do you want to install grinder pumps and if so who purchases, maintains and replaces them the town or the property owner, how will you handle condo associations (currently we are talking about bringing the pipe to the edge of the property line so it will depend upon how far away you are or how long a driveway is as to how much it will cost to hook up), how far do you go on private roads (maybe it depends upon how many house are on them or do you treat them like condos). These are things that would need to be decided in the future.

Boyd Smith asked if the ultimate build out with current zoning is being taken into consideration.

Mr. McCullick replied it is somewhat. He continued that if we are going by a subdivision than the build out is considered but if there is a new road that is cut later than it might not be considered.

Funding was discussed as a possible combination of betterment fees, user rates and property taxes in addition to grant funding. It was recommended that capital items for the system should not be funded through the user rates.

Mr. McCullick stated the difficulty with this project is that the first phase is too long and we don’t have enough properties connecting in the first phase to help offset costs.

Mr. Denning asked if going through hundred acre woods was considered.

The engineers discussed hundred acre woods but agreed it should be looked at further.

Boyd Smith discussed the round white fish that lives in Newfound Lake and how rare it is. He also discussed the water sampling the NRLA is doing and how the lake still meets pristine quality. He continued that the clarity of the water is good but is declining a little. He added that unfortunately, it is easier to get grant funding for a pollution problem that is already occurring versus preventing one.

Grant funding was discussed and the lack of funds available to the state making the competition tougher.

Once this preliminary plan is complete the town will have the preliminary engineering necessary to complete the next rural development application.

CDM will prepare a handout for town meeting which explains the progress on the project to date and the estimated phases for the sewer to the lake extension.

The group will get back together in about a month.

Motion to adjourn was made by Mr. Steve favorite; seconded by Mr. Denning; vote was unanimous.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:45 pm

Respectfully submitted,

Elizabeth Corrow

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Richard Alpers, Chair                                            Steve Favorite

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Joe Denning                                                            Paul Fraser

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Bruce Van Derven